Higgs

What Higgs does

HIGGS (Higher Incubator Giving Growth & Sustainability) is a Greek Civil Non-Profit Company (Αστική Μη Κερδοσκοπική Εταιρεία) founded in 2014 and headquartered in the Metaxourgeio neighborhood of Athens. It operates as the first dedicated incubator and accelerator for non-profit organizations and social enterprises in Greece, running structured programs (Incubator, Accelerator, GSE Incubator for KoiSΕΠ, and Bootcamp), tailor-made training and consulting, social impact measurement services, and a co-working/event space for hosted organizations. All programs are delivered free of charge to selected NPOs, with accommodation covered for non-Athens participants; program access is gated by an application process.

The underlying 'technology' is non-proprietary: a website (www.higgs3.org), an online newsletter and Civil Society Updates e-magazine, and the HIGGS Community Platform for online consulting. The core intellectual assets are the educational curricula, training methodologies, and the convening power of an advisor network that includes former UN Department of Public Information leadership. The public-facing product portfolio includes nine line items spanning core programs, add-on advisory services, a physical co-working facility, an events program, and the quarterly Civil Society Updates publication.

The business model is a non-profit grant-and-donation model with no fees charged to beneficiaries. Funding comes from a coalition of foundations including the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (founding donor), Bodossaki Foundation, John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, TIMA Charitable Foundation, Hellenic Hope, Active Citizens Fund (EEA/Norway Grants), The Hellenic Initiative, Citi Foundation, plus corporate partners such as the National Bank of Greece and SAP. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, using outreach events across multiple Greek cities (Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Komotini, Ioannina), donor speed-dating events, and the annual Conference on Civil Society to recruit program cohorts and connect NPOs with funders. No revenue, headcount, or financial figures are disclosed in the source data.

Name

Higgs

Legal name

HIGGS |Higher Incubator Giving Growth & Sustainability|

Website

https://higgs3.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HIGGS is the first dedicated incubator and accelerator for non-profit organizations and social enterprises in Greece, providing free training, consulting, co-working space, and events to strengthen civil society capacity, funded by foundation grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Capacity Building Services

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerator / Incubator-Backed ETA Programs (FSANALAD)

Keywords

• Nonprofit capacity building
• Civil society support
• NGO incubation
• Social enterprise acceleration
• Nonprofit training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Athens

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: HIGGS operates as a non-profit organization funded by donations and grants from foundations, corporations, and institutional donors. The organization does not charge fees for its programs and services to participating organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HIGGS is a Greek non-profit organization that runs the country's first and only dedicated incubator and accelerator programs for civil society organizations. Its core offering is a portfolio of free, structured programs — the Incubator for newly established or rebooting NGOs, the Accelerator for small-to-medium NPOs (up to 40 employees) selected on the strength of their fundraising proposals, and the GSE Incubator for Social Enterprises (ΚοινΣΕΠ) — supplemented by tailor-made training and consulting, social impact measurement, networking events, and co-working facilities at its Athens headquarters.

Product overview

HIGGS (Higher Incubator Giving Growth & Sustainability) is a Greek non-profit organization that operates as an empowerment hub for Civil Society Organizations (NGOs) and Social Enterprises (ΚοινΣΕΠ). The organization offers a portfolio of core incubator and accelerator programs including the Incubator Program for newly established organizations, the Accelerator Program for established NGOs focused on fundraising, and the GSE Incubator for Social Enterprises. These are supplemented by modular services including tailor-made training and consulting, evaluation and social impact measurement, events and networking facilitation, and access to co-working spaces. The organization also publishes Civil Society Updates, an electronic magazine, and maintains a HIGGS Community Platform for online consulting services. The ecosystem approach combines direct organizational support with community-building activities to strengthen the Greek civil society sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Incubator: Program for individuals interested in creating an NGO, from newly established ones, or organizations that aim at rebooting themselves.
• Accelerator
• GSE Incubator
• Bootcamp
• Civil Society Updates
• HIGGS Community Platform

Products and services

• Incubator Program Structured program for individuals interested in creating an NGO, newly established non-profits, or organizations aiming to reboot themselves. Provides training seminars, bootcamps, consulting, co-working space, and mentorship to help organizations develop and achieve their goals. Free of charge; accommodation covered for participants outside Athens.
• Accelerator Program Acceleration program for small or medium-sized NGOs with up to 40 permanent full-time employees, selected on the strength of a fundraising proposal. Includes Bootcamp training, closed seminars and workshops, consulting, and advisory board presentations. Free of charge.
• GSE Incubator (Social Enterprise Incubator) Incubator specifically designed for Greek Social Cooperative Enterprises (ΚοινΣΕΠ), providing comprehensive support services similar to the general Incubator with additional benefits tailored to the needs of social enterprises.
• Tailor-made Training & Consulting Services Customized education and advisory services for NGOs, Social Cooperative Enterprises (ΚοινΣΕΠ), and corporate/foundation professionals covering themes such as project design, fundraising, digital marketing, volunteer management, social impact measurement, and European program applications.
• Evaluation & Social Impact Measurement Assessment and measurement services for programs implemented by NGOs, charitable foundations, companies, and other organizations, evaluating social impact and program effectiveness.
• HIGGS Spaces (Co-working & Event Facilities) Access to fully equipped co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues at the Athens headquarters, available at very low or no cost to hosted organizations.
• Events & Networking Calendar of events connecting NGOs with stakeholders, funders, and experts from Greece and abroad, including Outreach Events (thematic presentations), Insight Out sessions, HIGGS Donors Speed-dating events, Fail #NOT events, and the annual Conference on Civil Society.
• Civil Society Updates Quarterly electronic magazine published by HIGGS since 2017 as an information hub for the Greek nonprofit sector, featuring narratives, updates, funding opportunities, and research.

Quantifiable outcome

• 268 organizations trained with 6,731 hours of education and consulting, resulting in €11.7 million in funding secured by beneficiary organizations

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Erasmus+coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Multiple Erasmus+ projects including Social Impact Measurement for Civil Society Organizations and Empowering Civil Society Through A Learning Environment.
• Transnational Giving Europe (TGE) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020HIGGS supports the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO through TGE Network. Partnership enables cross-border philanthropy for Greek civil society.
• Give & FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partner in Outreach Event on crowdfunding, sharing experience and best practices with 53 NPO participants.
• GlobalGivingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partner in crowdfunding outreach event, providing platforms and expertise for Greek NPOs.
• SAPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016HIGGS was selected for SAP Social Sabbatical program where SAP professionals provided free consulting services for strategic development.
• United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016HIGGS organizes events with UNDPI representatives. María Luisa Chávez, former Chief of NGO Relations at UNDPI, serves on HIGGS Advisory Board. Partnership connects Greek NGOs with UN system.
• METAdrasiminorOthers · 1 January 2016Interpretation and child protection organization hosted at HIGGS premises, conducting activities including carnival party events.
• EthelonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-organized Imp!Act ethelon powered by euforia event to motivate social entrepreneurship with experiential seminars and mentorship.
• UNRIC (UN Regional Information Centre)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016HIGGS organized events with UNRIC Communication Officer to inform Greek NGOs about cooperation with the UN system.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UnLtd: UnLtd is a UK-based non-profit that supports social entrepreneurs with funding, mentoring, and capacity-building programs. Directly comparable to HIGGS as a country-anchored social enterprise support hub offering grants, incubation, and accelerator programs.
• Echoing Green: Echoing Green is a US-based non-profit that provides fellowships and capacity-building support to emerging social entrepreneurs. Comparable to HIGGS as a dedicated fellowship/incubator model for early-stage social-impact leaders.
• NESsT: NESsT is a global non-profit that incubates and accelerates high-impact social enterprises, providing capacity building, consulting, and access to capital. Closely comparable to HIGGS in mission and incubation/acceleration model for social-purpose organizations.
• Ashoka: Ashoka is a global non-profit that identifies and supports leading social entrepreneurs through fellowships and capacity-building support. Comparable to HIGGS in mission of strengthening individual changemakers and their organizations.
• School for Social Entrepreneurs: The School for Social Entrepreneurs is a UK-based charity that runs learning programs and practical support for social entrepreneurs. Directly comparable to HIGGS in providing structured training, mentoring, and peer networks to social-purpose founders.

Others

• Impact Hub: Impact Hub is a global network of co-working and innovation spaces for social entrepreneurs. Comparable to HIGGS's HIGGS Spaces offering and community-building function, though more focused on physical workspace and less on structured accelerator programming.
• Social Enterprise UK: Social Enterprise UK is the UK membership body for social enterprises, providing advocacy, training, and network support. Adjacent to HIGGS as an enabling ecosystem organization serving the social-purpose sector, though more focused on advocacy and convening.
• European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA): EVPA is a membership association representing venture philanthropy and social investment organizations across Europe. Adjacent to HIGGS as an ecosystem-level capacity-building organization connecting funders with social-purpose organizations.

Regional players

• Phitrust: Phitrust is a France-based organization that supports social enterprises with investment, partnerships, and capacity building. Comparable to HIGGS's social enterprise focus but operating in a different geographic market with an investment-oriented approach.

Broad incumbents

• Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship: The Schwab Foundation is a global foundation that supports social entrepreneurs through a broader ecosystem approach including convening, research, and corporate partnerships. Comparable to HIGGS's mission but operates at a much larger scale with corporate and WEF-aligned convening power.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2FHIGGS3HIGGS%2F
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWJW-ysFjASPV7bJz6xJtIA
• Facebookfacebook.com/higgs3Greece
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/higgs3
• Instagraminstagram.com/higgs3higgs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Higgs